Harry Balfour Replacement School

The ribbon is cut during the Harry Balfour School grand opening celebration on September 27, 2024.

Harry Balfour Replacement School

On November 1, 2019, Peace Wapiti Public School Division (PWPSD) was awarded design and construction funding for the Harry Balfour Replacement School; watch the annoucement here. Replacing the old Harry Balfour School had been the PWPSD Board’s top capital plan priority for several years.

AMAN Builders Inc. was awarded the construction contract for the Harry Balfour Replacement School. The school opened September 2024.

Attendance area

View the Harry Balfour School attendance area.

Jen HBS

Principal Jen Clevette tours the Harry Balfour Replacement School - September 2023

School design

Start Architecture was named the successful design bidder in March 2021.
The replacement school reflects elements of Whispering Ridge Community School that opened in 2018 to accommodate approximately half of Harry Balfour School’s rapidly growing enrolment.
Interior design of the replacement school, including room layout and breakout spaces, received tremendous input from the School Design Committee.
Using Whispering Ridge Community School as their starting point, the School Design Committee provided input on classroom design elements such as millwork and the design and location of teaching stations and whiteboards.
The design incorporated LEED® Silver requirements, in collaboration with Alberta Infrastructure.

Playground: In her announcement on November 1, 2019, Minister LaGrange also said parents no longer have to fundraise for playground equipment, as it is included in funding for new schools.

Location: The County of Grande Prairie provided land at the Five Mile Hall site.

Advantage of the new location: By eliminating the additional time required to transport rural students through the busy central core of the city, the Board has achieved another important goal – educating County of Grande Prairie students where they live while reducing early morning pick-up and late drop-off times.

Playground

Thanks to Participarent, corporate sponsorships, individual donations, and the Christmas concert admission and silent auction fundraisers, the new Harry Balfour School was able to open with a playground and other outdoor equipment for students to enjoy.

Outdoor Classrooms

Outdoor classrooms follow the principle that children learn everywhere and all the time. Learning by experience helps children grow in motor development, social-emotional development, language development, and creative expression.

Want to learn more? The Harry Balfour School Council and Participarent meetings are held on the third Wednesday of every month at 6:30 p.m. at Harry Balfour School, and all are welcome to attend!

Media Releases

PWPSD Media Releases

Sept. 27, 2024 The new Harry Balfour School is officially open
Jul. 25, 2024 Pembina Pipeline donates $8,000 to Harry Balfour School playground
May 08, 2024 Harry Balfour School invites you on an adventure back in time on May 15
May 07, 2024 Harry Balfour School receives financial support from Swan City Rotary and Whispering Ridge Community School Participarent
Feb. 07, 2024 Harry Balfour School's playground fund gets boost from Five Mile Community Ag Society
Jan. 30, 2024 Harry Balfour School receives $50,000 grant from County of Grande Prairie for new playground
Jun. 07, 2023 Harry Balfour School reveals new logo
Mar. 29, 2021 Board approves funding for additional washroom space
Mar. 10, 2021 Construction Update: Replacement Harry Balfour School
Apr. 27, 2020 Board News: Construction funding approved for replacement Harry Balfour School
Mar. 11, 2020 Full funding confirmed for replacement Harry Balfour School
Nov. 04, 2019 Design funding awarded for replacement Harry Balfour School

Government of Alberta / County of Grande Prairie Media Releases

Apr. 27, 2021 Council awards contract for water and sanitary servicing at Five Mile Hall School site, County of Grande Prairie Council Highlights
Jan. 12, 2021 Third reading for Five Mile Hall borrowing bylaw, County of Grande Prairie Council Highlights
Nov. 25, 2019 Council approves PWPSD's request to access Five Mile Hall surrounding lands for site evaluations, County of Grande Prairie Council Highlights
Nov. 01, 2019 Building schools for the future, Alberta Government

In the News – Media Coverage

Mar. 25, 2021 Five Mile Hall school advances with design company, Town & Country News
Mar. 11, 2021 Construction to start this fall on Harry Balfour School, Daily Herald Tribune
Mar. 10, 2021 Designer named for Harry Balfour replacement school, 2day FM
Mar. 10, 2021 Construction of Harry Balfour School replacement at Five Mile site expected to start in Fall 2021, Everything GP
Jan. 19, 2021 County to borrow $4 million, servicing Five Mile Hall school site to cost $6 million plus, Daily Herald Tribune
Dec. 17, 2020 Province grants county $2.67M for school prep under municipal stimulus program, Town & Country News
Dec. 03, 2020 County receives over $2.67 million in provincial stimulus funding, Daily Herald Tribune
Dec. 02, 2020 County granted $2.6 million to help service Five mile school site, Everything GP
Nov. 30, 2020 Provincial grant funding for Five Mile Hall School site, County of Grande Prairie Council Highlights
Nov. 30, 2020 Long-term planning for Five Mile School site, County of Grande Prairie Council Highlights
Nov. 30, 2020 County approved for over $2.6 million in municipal stimulus funding, 2day FM
Nov. 30, 2020 County receives over $2.67 Million in Provincial Stimulus Funding, County of Grande Prairie
Nov. 26, 2020 County approves $298K to power future Five Mile school site, Town & Country News
Nov. 16, 2020 Five Mile Hall school one step closer to construction, 2day FM
Nov. 09, 2020 Council approves funding to extend power and natural gas utilities to the Five Mile Hall School Site, County of Grande Prairie
Apr. 27, 2020 Construction funding approved for replacement Harry Balfour School, Reach FM
Mar. 11, 2020 Full funding confirmed by province for replacement of Harry Balfour School, Everything GP
Dec. 06, 2019 Peace Wapiti dealing with $2-million grant cut, promised school replacement, Daily Herald Tribune
Nov. 28, 2019 County Council to send a letter to School Division, granting access to new school site, Everything GP
Nov. 21, 2019 PWPSD receiving funds for new Five Mile School, Town & Country News
Nov. 12, 2019 MLA happy GP is "on the map again" for new schools, Everything GP
Nov. 07, 2019 Design funding announced for replacement Harry Balfour School, Daily Herald Tribune
Nov. 04, 2019 Design funding awarded for replacement of Harry Balfour School, Reach FM
Nov. 04, 2019 PWPSD gets design funding for Five Mile Hall school, 2day FM
Nov. 01, 2019 Provincial funding will go to planning new Harry Balfour School, Everything GP
Nov. 01, 2019 Four Edmonton schools among 25 projects to be built or funded across AB, Global News Edmonton

Contact Us:

Peace Wapiti Public School Division

Telephone: (780) 532-8133

Harry Balfour School website

Harry Balfour School Facebook